Question 1. Given the current state of the economy, do you think right now would be a good time to take a company public? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of going through the IPO process at this time as opposed to waiting a year or two?
Question 2. Discount rates will vary based upon your own personal level of risk tolerance. For example, I might be willing to buy a risky stock if I think I'll earn 10% while my wife would need at least 20% before she'd consider it. What's your discount rate for the following types of equities? How did you determine that rate?
a) A risk free equity (a US Treasury Note - called risk free because if they can't pay, your money is worthless!)
b) A CD at a South American bank paying in their local currency.
c) A stock in a company that has a secure stream of income from a long term contract customer.
d) A stock in a company that has an interesting business plan but no real operations as of yet (as NY Lotto says "A Dollar and A Dream")
And in addition, how would the recent huge fluctuations in the stock market affect your original response to the initial part of this question .
Question 3. Would you ever use Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) to make personal investment decisions? Why or why not?
Note: the main message of the CAPM is the notion of diversification of investments. At least theoretically investors should only invest in two portfolios: one is the Market Portfolio (such as the S&P500 Index) and the other is a portfolio of short term or money market default-free securities.